Schaumburg baseball team names new GM

New ownership and new team president/general manager are in place for the 2012 season at Alexian Field. A new name and logo for the American Association baseball team will be revealed soon, says owner Pat Salvi.Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Andy Viano

Daily Herald Report

The new owners of the Schaumburg baseball club that will play its games at Alexian Field in 2012 have hired former Gary RailCats president/general manager Andy Viano to run their newest team.

The Salvi family have owned the Gary SouthShore RailCats since 2008 and will continue to operate both clubs. After Viano was hired for Schaumburg, a new general manager was appointed run the Gary team.

"This is a new beginning for Schaumburg and the surrounding community and I couldn't be more excited about working in this wonderful area and getting to know a whole new set of local leaders, community partners, corporate partners and baseball fans!" owner/CEO Pat Salvi said.

Tuesday night, Schaumburg village officials approved the transfer of the operating agreement for Alexian Field from the previous owner, Alan Oremus, to Pat Salvi. The village and Schaumburg Park District are co-owners of the stadium, which previously hosted the Schaumburg Flyers of the former Northern League.

Viano spent seven years with the RailCats in a variety of roles before being named President/General Manager prior to the start of the 2011 season. The Downers Grove native guided the club's transition to the American Association and oversaw a successful year both on and off the field as the 'Cats broke their single-game attendance record twice en route to averaging more than 3,200 fans per game and enjoyed their seventh straight winning season.

"The Village of Schaumburg and Alexian Field has always been one of the premier spots for minor league baseball and I am tremendously excited about bringing the great fans in this area the type of entertainment they expect and deserve," Viano said. "The RailCats were built on outstanding customer service, dedication to individual fans and partners, a top-flight facility and a winning tradition on the field, and we will settle for nothing less than bringing all of that to Schaumburg starting in May."

Salvi and Viano will both be on hand at this weekend's Septemberfest in downtown Schaumburg to meet and mingle with fans and give the community their first taste of the new team. The club will announce a name, logo, colors and full staff in the coming months.